Portugal's center-right minority government fell on Tuesday (March 11) after losing a crucial confidence vote, pushing the country toward its third early general election in three years.Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, in office for just 11 months, had called the vote in response to opposition allegations about a consultancy firm he founded, now run by his sons. Parliament rejected his motion of confidence by 142 votes to 88, with no abstentions.

Montenegro denied any wrongdoing and criticized the opposition for spreading false accusations. "The claim that I mixed business with politics is completely unfounded and offensive," he said before the vote. "Repeating a lie doesn’t make it true, but it does fuel populism." With his government now in a caretaker role, the decision to call a new election rests with President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. He will consult political leaders on Wednesday and his advisory council on Thursday, with mid-May seen as a likely date for a fresh vote.

After the vote, Montenegro said his administration had tried everything to avoid an early election, even proposing a parliamentary inquiry into his family's business—something he had previously ruled out. However, the opposition Socialists refused, leading to a political deadlock.mSocialist leader Pedro Nuno Santos dismissed Montenegro’s last-minute offers as "desperate and shameful," blaming him entirely for the crisis and calling him "unfit to govern."

Voter Fatigue and Uncertain Political Future: Despite the likelihood of a new election, analysts see little hope for a decisive outcome. Public frustration is growing, with many feeling politicians are acting irresponsibly. "This feels like a joke—another election so soon? Politicians just blame each other while the country suffers," said Joao Brito, a 70-year-old retiree in Lisbon.

Opinion polls suggest little change from the previous election in March 2024, where Montenegro's Democratic Alliance (AD) won a narrow victory with 80 seats in the 230-seat parliament, just ahead of the Socialists with 78 seats. Political scientist Adelino Maltez warns that the upcoming election may not resolve the deadlock. "The AD and Socialists are neck-and-neck, and neither is likely to win a clear majority. The only way forward may be a centrist coalition between the two, despite their policy differences," he said. Such an alliance has only happened once before, from 1983 to 1985. "If they don’t cooperate, Portugal will face continued instability," Maltez added.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.